Washer

ABSTRACT

A washing machine comprises a casing; a tub disposed inside the casing; a drum rotatably provided inside the tub, for accommodating laundry therein; and a spiral nozzle for rotating supplied water in a predetermined direction and then spraying the water into the drum through discharge hole, wherein the spiral nozzle comprises an impingement surface formed in front of the discharge hole so that the water discharged from the discharge hole is distributed by impinging on the impingement surface.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a washing machine.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a washing machine is an apparatus for removing a contaminantadhered to clothes, bedding, etc. (hereinafter, referred to as ‘thelaundry’) using a chemical disintegration of water and a detergent and aphysical operation such as a friction between water and the laundry. Thewashing machine has a basic structure in which a drum accommodating thelaundry is rotatably installed in a tub. In addition, a washing machinehaving a nozzle through which water is sprayed into the drum hasrecently come into the market.

However, in the conventional washing machine having the nozzle, thewater sprayed as the form of particles. The particles are not fineenough. Particularly, spray performance is rapidly lowered, and water isnot sprayed directly to the laundry in a serious case. That is, thewater is not sprayed through nozzles, but gradually filled in a tub fromthe bottom of a tub to the water level at which the laundry gets wet.Therefore, the water supply in the conventional washing machine is notdifferent from that in a general washing machine.

Since water sprayed through the nozzles is bumped against mechanismsaround the nozzles, the water is distributed in an undesired place,which is problematic in terms of sanitation. Further, the laundry againgets wet due to water drops falling from the undesired place.

In the conventional washing machine, water is sprayed in one place ordirection, and hence there is a limitation in getting the laundry evenlywet.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

The present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems.Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a washingmachine in which water can be more widely sprayed into a drum.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing machinein which water in the form of fine particles can be sprayed into a drum.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a washingmachine in which water can be smoothly sprayed into a drum even in anenvironment in which water pressure is low.

Technical Solution

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provideda washing machine, comprising: a casing; a tub disposed inside thecasing; a drum rotatably provided inside the tub, for accommodatinglaundry therein; and a spiral nozzle for rotating supplied water in apredetermined direction and then spraying the water into the drumthrough a discharge hole, wherein the spiral nozzle comprises animpingement surface formed in front of the discharge hole so that thewater discharged from the discharge hole is distributed by impinging onthe impingement surface.

Advantageous Effects

According to the washing machine of the present invention, water can bemore widely sprayed into a drum.

Further, water in the form of fine particles can be sprayed into a drum.

Further, water can be smoothly sprayed into a drum even in anenvironment in which water pressure is low.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a main configuration of the washing machine shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cut-away portion of the washing machine shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates the configuration of FIG. 2 viewed from the front.

FIG. 5 illustrates a gasket.

FIG. 6 illustrates a structure in which circulation hoses are fixed.

FIG. 7 illustrates a nozzle unit.

FIG. 8A is a partial cut-away view of a spiral nozzle shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 8B is plan view of the nozzle unit of FIG. 7 viewed from the top tothe bottom.

FIG. 9 illustrates a gasket nozzle.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view taken along line D-D of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 schematically illustrates a pattern in which washing water issprayed through gasket nozzles.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of a control panel.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a washing machine according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates whole cycles of a washing method according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates rotation speeds of a drum in a complex cycle in thewashing method shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a water pressure measuring method inthe washing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a pump fault determining method inthe washing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a pump operating method in thewashing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a washing method of a HEAVY DUTYcourse in the washing method according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

BEST MODE

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of theinvention are shown. This invention should not be construed as limitedto the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and willfully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine 100 according to anembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates a mainconfiguration of the washing machine 100 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3illustrates a cut-away portion of the washing machine 100 shown inFIG. 1. FIG. 4 illustrates the configuration of FIG. 2 viewed from thefront. FIG. 5 illustrates a gasket 120.

Hereinafter, the washing machine 100 according to the embodiment of thepresent invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

A casing 110 forms an exterior appearance of the washing machine 100. Atub 132 for containing water is suspended inside the casing 110, and adrum 134 for accommodating laundry is rotatably provided inside the tub132. The casing 110 may be further provided with a heater 143 forheating the water contained in the tub 132.

The casing 110 may comprise a cabinet 111 which forms the exteriorappearance of the washing machine 100 and has opened front and topsurfaces, a base 113 (See FIG. 4) supporting the cabinet 111, a frontcover 112 which has a laundry input hole through which the laundry caninput into the drum 134 and is coupled to the front surface of thecabinet 111, and a top cover 116 provided to the top surface of thecabinet 111. A door 118 opening/closing the laundry input hole may berotatably provided to the front cover 112.

A glass 118 a may be provided to the door 118 so that a user can observethe laundry inside the drum 134 from outside of the washing machine 100.The glass 118 a may be formed in a convex shape, and a front end of theglass 118 a may be protruded up to inside of the drum 134 in the statein which the door 118 is closed.

A detergent box 114 is used to receive additives such as a detergent forpreliminary or main washing, a fabric softener and a bleach. Thedetergent box 114 is provided to be extractable from the casing 110.

The tub 132 may be suspended by a spring so that vibration generated inrotation of the drum 134 can be absorbed. The drum 134 may be furtherprovided with a damper supporting the tub 132 at the downside of the tub132.

A plurality of holes are formed in the drum 134 so that water can flowbetween the tub 132 and the drum 134 therethrough. One or more lifters134 a may be provided along the inner circumferential surface of thedrum 134 so that the laundry can be lifted and then drop according tothe rotation of the drum 134.

The drum 134 is not disposed completely in horizontal but disposed witha predetermined slope so that a posterior portion of the drum 134 islower than the horizontal level.

A motor providing a driving force for rotating the drum 134 may beprovided to the drum 134. The motor may be classified as a directdriving type or an indirect driving type according to a method fortransferring the driving force provided from the motor to the drum 134.In the direct driving type, a rotary shaft of the motor is directlyfastened to the drum 134, and the rotary shaft of the motor and a centerof the drum 134 are aligned coaxially. The washing machine 100 accordingto this embodiment is based on the direct driving type. Although thedrum 134 is rotated by the motor 141 provided in a space between therear of the tub 132 and the cabinet 111, the present invention is notnecessarily limited thereto, and it is apparent that the indirectdriving type described above is possible.washing machine

In the indirect driving type, the drum 134 is rotated using a powertransfer means such as a belt or pulley for transferring a driving forceprovided from a motor. In the indirect driving type, a rotary shaft ofthe motor and the center of the drum 134 are not necessarily alignedcoaxially.

The gasket 120 is provided between the casing 110 and the tub 132. Thegasket 120 prevents water stored in the tub 132 from leaking between thetub 132 and the casing 110. One side of the gasket 120 is coupled to thecasing 110, and the other end of the gasket 120 is coupled to the tub132 along the circumference of an opened front portion of the tub 132.The gasket 120 is elastically folded/unfolded according to vibration ofthe tub 132, thereby absorbing the vibration.

The gasket 120 may be made of a deformable or flexible material having aslight elasticity, and may be formed using natural rubber or syntheticresin.

The washing machine 100 is connected to a hot water source H.W forsupplying hot water and a cold water source C.W for supply cold waterrespectively through a hot water hose 115 a and a cold water hose 115 b,and water flowed in the washing machine 100 through the hot water hose115 a and the cold water hose 115 b is supplied to the detergent box114, a steam generator 139 and/or a spiral nozzle 50 and 60 under aproper control of a water supply unit 136.

Particularly, the water supplied through the cold water hose 115 b maybe supplied to the detergent box, the steam generator 139 and/or thespiral nozzle 50 and 60 by first to fourth water supply valve 136 a to136 d.

The detergent box 114 is received inside of a detergent box housing 117.The detergent box housing 117 is communicated with the tub 132 through awater supply bellows 133. The water supplied by the water supply unit136 is mixed with additives via the detergent box 114 and then movedinto the tub 132 along the water supply bellows 133 connected to thedetergent box housing 117.

A washing detergent, a fabric softener, a bleach, etc. may be used asthe additives received in the detergent box 114. The detergent box 114may be provided with a plurality of receiving spaces partitioned so thatthe additives are not mixed with one another but separately received inthe detergent box 114.

First, second and third water supply hoses 131 a, 131 b and 131 c areused to supply water to the detergent box 114, and respectivelycorrespond to the partitioned spaces formed in the detergent box 114 soas to receive the additives. The first, second and third water supplyvalves 136 a, 136 b and 136 c control the first, second and third watersupply hoses 131 a, 131 b and 131 c, respectively.

The steam generator 139 is a device which generates steam by heatingwater. Water is supplied to the steam generator 139 through the fourthwater supply hose 136 d. The steam generated in the steam generator 139is supplied to a steam nozzle 70 and 80 through a steam supply hose 137.

The water supplied through the hot-water hose 115 a is flowed into thedetergent box 114 through a fifth water supply hose 131 e, and a hotwater valve 136 e for controlling the fifth water supply hose 131 e maybe provided to the fifth water supply hose 131 e.

Meanwhile, a distributor 119 may be connected to the third water supplyhose 131 c. In this case, water passing through the distributor 119 isdistributed to a sixth water supply hose 131 f and a seventh watersupply hose 131 g, and hence water spray through the spiral nozzle 50and 60 and water supply through the detergent box 114 are simultaneouslyperformed. Thus, the laundry in the drum 134 can be efficiently wet.Particularly, the laundry can be sufficiently wet using only a smallamount of water as compared with the conventional method performed onlywhen the water supply is made via the detergent box 114.

A pump 148 is used to drain water discharged from the tub 132 through adrainage bellows 147 to the outside through a drainage hose 149 or topressure-feed the water to a pair of circulation hoses 151 and 152respectively connected to first and second gasket nozzles 160 and 170.Therefore, if the pump 148 is operated, the water is sprayed through thegasket nozzles 160 and 170. In this embodiment, the pump 148 has both afunction as a drainage pump and a function as a circulation pump.However, it will be apparent that a pump for drainage and a pump forcirculation may be separately provided.

The water pressure-fed by the pump 148 is simultaneously supplied to thefirst and second circulation hoses 151 and 152. Thus, the water issimultaneously sprayed toward the laundry from the first and secondgasket nozzles 160 and 170.

The pump 148 may comprise an impeller rotated by the motor 141, and apump housing in which the impeller is accommodated. The pump housing maybe provided with first and second discharge ports 148 a and 148 bthrough which the water pressure-fed by the rotation of the impeller isdischarged. The first circulation hose 151 may be connected to the firstdischarge port 148 a, and the second circulation hose 152 may beconnected to the second discharge port 148 b. Since water is dischargedfrom the pump 148 through the two discharge ports 148 a and 148 bindependent to each other, the water can be supplied at the same waterpressure to the circulation hoses 151 and 152.

FIG. 11 schematically illustrates a pattern in which washing water issprayed through the gasket nozzles. Referring to FIG. 11, laundry 10 isrepetitively lifted by the lifter 134 a and then drop while the drum 134is rotating. In this case, the first and second gasket nozzles 160 and170 simultaneously spray water toward the dropping laundry 10. Such amanner has an advantage in that the water can be evenly sprayed towardthe laundry 10 regardless of the rotation direction of the drum 134.

However, a distributor may be provided between the pump 148 and thecirculation hoses 151 and 152 so that the water is alternately sprayedthrough the pair of gasket nozzles 160 and 170. In this case, the watermay be selectively sprayed through the first or second gasket nozzle 160or 170 according to the rotation direction of the drum 134, under aproper control of the distributor.

A drying duct 138 is used to guide the movement of air so that air inthe tub 132 is exhausted to the outside of the tub 132 and then againguided to the inside of the tub 132. The drying duct 138 may comprise afirst drying duct 138 a and a second drying duct 138 b.

The first drying duct 138 a guides air from the tub 132 to an air blower142. The side of the first drying duct 138 a, at which the air is flowedin the first drying duct 138 a, is connected to the tub 132, and theside of the first drying duct 138 a, at which the air is exhausted fromthe first drying duct 138 a, is connected to the air blower 142.

The second drying duct 138 b guides the air blown by the air blower 142into the tub 132. The side of the second drying duct 138 b, at which theair flowed in the second drying duct 138 b, is connected to the airblower 142, and the side of the second drying duct 138 b, at which theair is exhausted from the second drying duct 138 b, is connected to thetub 132. In this embodiment, the gasket 120 is provided with a ductconnecting portion 129 to which the second drying duct 138 b isconnected. The duct connecting portion 129 allows the inside of the drum134 and the second drying duct 138 b to communicate with each other.

A nozzle unit coupling portion 125 having a nozzle unit 161 coupledthereto may be formed at an upper portion of the gasket 120. The nozzleunit coupling portion 125 may comprise a first insertion hole 125 athrough which a spiral flow generating pipe 60 is inserted and coupledto the nozzle unit coupling portion 125, and a second insertion hole 125b through which a steam inlet pipe 70 is inserted and coupled to thenozzle unit coupling portion 125.

The air blower 142 blows air to be circulated along the drying duct 138.The air blower 142 may include an appropriate type of fan according tothe arrangement relationship between the first and second drying ducts138 a and 138 b. The air blower according to this embodiment includes acentrifugal fan. The centrifugal fan is suitable to exhaust air suckedfrom the downside of the centrifugal fan through the first drying duct138 a to the second drying duct 138 b connected to the centrifugal fanin the side direction.

Meanwhile, a drying heater (not shown) may be provided to removemoisture from the air flowing along the drying duct 138. The dryingheater may be disposed inside the drying duct 138, particularly insidethe second drying duct 138 b along which the air pressure-fed by the airblower 142 is guided.

A control panel 180 may comprise a course selection unit 182 receive acourse selection input from a user, an input/output unit 184 whichreceives various kinds of control commands and displays an operatingstate of the washing machine 100. The control panel 180 will bedescribed in detail later with reference to FIG. 12.

Separation preventing protrusions 121 may be formed at the gasket 120.Here, the separation preventing protrusions 121 prevents the laundryfrom being separated from the drum 134 by the rotation of the drum 134and then inserted between the gasket 120 and the casing 110,particularly the front cover 112, or prevents the laundry from beingpoured to the outside of the washing machine 100 when the door 118 isopened after washing is finished. The separation preventing protrusions121 are formed to protrude toward the laundry input hole from the innercircumferential surface of the gasket 120.

The separation preventing protrusions 121 may be formed at a pluralityof positions. Particularly, the separation preventing protrusions 121may be respectively formed at positions symmetrical to one another withrespect to the vertical center line H of the gasket 120.

The gasket 120 may comprise a plurality of gasket nozzles 160 and 170spraying water into the drum 134, and a plurality of connectors 123 and124 supplying water to the respective gasket nozzles.

Although it has been described in this embodiment that water is sprayedby the two gasket nozzles 160 and 170, the present invention is notlimited thereto. That is, two or more gasket nozzles may be provided tospray water into the drum 134 in a plurality of directions.

The gasket nozzles 160 and 170 may be integrally formed with the gasket120. For example, the gasket nozzles 160 and 170 and the gasket 120 maybe integrally formed through injection molding using synthetic resin.

The gasket nozzles 160 and 170 may be formed to protrude from an innercircumferential surface of the gasket 120, and the connectors 123 and124 respectively connected to the circulation hoses 151 and 152 may beformed on an outer circumferential surface of the gasket 120. Theconnectors 123 and 124 may comprise a first connector 123 for connectingthe first gasket nozzle 160 and the first circulation hose 151, and asecond connector 124 for connecting the second gasket nozzle 170 and thesecond circulation hose 152.

More specifically, the first or second gasket nozzle 160 and 170 sprayswater into the drum 134. Preferably, the water sprayed through thegasket nozzles 160 and 170 reaches not only the inner circumferentialsurface of the drum 134 but also a posterior wall 134 b of the drum 134.Particularly, in a case where a small quantity of laundry is input intothe drum 134, the laundry is gathered near the posterior wall 134 b ofthe drum 134 due to the rotation or slope of the drum 134. In this case,the laundry can be wet by the water sprayed from the gasket nozzles 160and 170.

The water sprayed from the first gasket nozzle 160 and the water sprayedfrom the second gasket nozzle 170 preferably intersect with each otherat least one time before reaching the posterior wall 134 b of the drum134. The first and second gasket nozzles 160 and 170. This is for thepurpose that the water sprayed from the first gasket nozzle 160 and thewater sprayed from the second gasket nozzle 170 intersect with eachother, and thus the sprayed water can reach a wider region even thoughinterference is made to a degree, rather than that the water sprayedfrom the first gasket nozzle 160 and the water sprayed from the secondgasket nozzle 170 never intersect with each other, and therefore, aregion that the water does not reach in the drum is formed to a degreeor more.

Meanwhile, a waiter may be provided to the tub 132. The waiter is aweight body having a considerable degree of weight, and the stability ofthe tub 132 can be maintained by inertia imposed by the waiter even inthe rotation of the drum 132. The waiter may be provided with aplurality of waiters at a front portion 132 b of the tub 132. In thewashing machine 100 according to this embodiment, two upper waiters 146horizontally symmetrical to each other with respect to the verticalcenter line H are provided higher than the horizontal center line C ofthe tub 132, and a lower waiter 144 is provided centrally lowered thanthe horizontal center line C of the tub 132. In order to avoidinterference with the lower waiter 144, the first and second connectors123 and 124 are preferably disposed at both sides of the lower waiter144, respectively.

The first and second nozzles 160 and 170 may be disposed symmetricallyto each other with respect to the vertical center line H passing throughthe center of the gasket 120 so that washing water is evenly sprayedinto the drum 134.

Particularly, the first and second gasket nozzles 160 and 170 may beprovided at both sides of the lower portion of the gasket 120 in a rangethat does not exceed a half of the height of the gasket 120. In thiscase, the first gasket nozzle 160 upwardly sprays water toward theinside of the drum 134 from the left lower portion of the gasket, andthe second gasket nozzle 170 upwardly sprays water toward the inside ofthe drum 134 from the left lower portion of the gasket 120 (See FIG.11). The laundry, which is lifted by the lifter 134 a and then drops,passes through a spray region formed by the first and second gasketnozzles 160 and 170. The gasket nozzles 160 and 170 upwardly spray watertoward the dropping laundry, so that the sprayed water applies a strongimpact to the laundry. Thus, the laundry is bent and stretched, therebyimproving the washing performance of the laundry.

FIG. 6 illustrates a structure in which the circulation hoses 151 and152 are fixed. Referring to FIG. 6, a holder 135 for fixing thecirculation hose 151 or 152 may be formed at the tub 132. The holder 135may include a pair of fixing ribs 135 a and 135 b protruded from thefront portion 132 b of the tub 132, and the circulation hoses 151 or 152is inserted and fixed between the pair of fixing ribs 135 a and 135 b.

When considering the structure in which the pump 148 is positioned belowthe tub 132, and the connectors 123 and 124 are protruded from thegasket 120 in an approximately horizontal direction, the fixing ribs 135a and 135 b are preferably formed in a bent shape.

A clamp 154 is used to fix the circulation hose 151 or 152 to the tub132, and clamps the circulation hose 151 or 152. A boss 156 having theclamp 154 fixed and coupled thereto may be formed at a lower outside ofthe tub 132.

As such, in the structure in which the circulation hose 151 or 152 isfixed to the tub 132 by the fixing ribs 135 a and 135 b and the clamp154, the circulation hose 151 or 152 integrally moves with the tub 132.Thus, although vibration is generated during the operation of thewashing machine 100, it is possible to reduce tension applied to thecirculation hose 151 or 152, thereby reducing the disconnection of thecirculation hose 151 or 152.

Through a simple process of preliminarily inserting the circulation hose151 or 152 into the holder 135 and then fastening the clamp 154 to thecirculation hose 151 or 152, the circulation hose 151 or 152 can befixed to the tub 132, thereby simplifying an assembling process.

Meanwhile, the circulation hose 151 or 152 may be connected to theconnector 123 or 124 by a connection tube 157. The circulation hoses 151and 152 may be made of a flexible material, and the connector 123 may beintegrally formed with the flexible gasket 120. The connection tube 157is formed of a material relatively harder than that of the connector123, and both ends of the connection tube 157 are respectively insertedinto the circulation hose 151 or 152 and the connector 123 or 124, sothat it is possible to further facilitate the coupling between thecirculation hose 151 or 152 and the connector 123 or 124.

In order to further ensure the connection between the circulation hose151 or 152 and the connector 123 or 124 through the connection tube 157,there are further provided a clamp 158 a for clamping one end of thecirculation hose 151 or 152 into which the connection tube 157 isinserted, and a clamp 158 b for clamping one end of the connector 123 or124 into which the connection tube 157 is inserted.

FIG. 7 illustrates the nozzle unit 161. FIG. 8A is a partial cut-awayview of the spiral nozzle 50 and 60 shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 8B is planview of the nozzle unit 161 of FIG. 7 viewed from the top to the bottom.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 8A and 8B, the nozzle unit 161 may be provided atthe upper portion of the gasket 120. The nozzle unit 161 comprises aspiral nozzle through which water is sprayed into the drum 134, and asteam nozzle through which steam is sprayed into the drum 134. It willbe apparent that the spiral and steam nozzles may be formed as separatecomponents independent to each other. The nozzle unit 161 may be formedas an assembly of a spiral flow generating pipe 60, a nozzle cap 190 anda steam inlet pipe 70. Hereinafter, a component 50 and 60 that generatesa spiral flow and sprays into the drum 134 is referred to as a spiralnozzle, and the component 70 and 80 that sprays steam into the drum 134is referred to as a steam nozzle.

The spiral nozzle 50 and 60 transforms the water supplied through thewater supply hoses 131 c and 131 f into a spiral flow and sprays intothe drum 134. The spiral nozzle 50 and 60 comprises a spiral flowgenerating pipe 60 connected to the sixth water supply hose 131 f, and aspiral nozzle cap 50 spraying water flowed through the spiral flowgenerating pipe 60 into the drum 134.

The spiral nozzle cap 50 comprises a discharge hole 52 h discharging thewater supplied through the spiral flow generating pipe 60, and animpingement surface 55 formed on a path along which the water dischargedthrough the discharge hole 52 h moves so that the flow of the water canbe distributed by causing impingement in the advancing direction of thewater.

Since the water sprayed through the discharge hole 52 h is distributedwhile being again bumped against the impingement surface 55, the watercan be evenly sprayed into the drum 134 even when the water pressure islow.

More specifically, the spiral nozzle cap 50 provides a predeterminedspace in which water is contained in the inside thereof, and thepredetermined space communicates with the outside through the dischargehole 52 h. The water discharged through the discharge hole 52 h movesalong a discharge channel 52 extended while downwardly forming a slope,and then distributed while being bumped against the impingement surface55 formed at the finish end of the discharge channel 52. Therefore, theimpingement surface 55 is not extended in parallel with the advancingdirection of the water along the discharge channel 52, but preferablyformed at a predetermined angle with the discharge channel 52 so thatthe water moving along the discharge channel 52 can be distributed bythe impingement surface 55.

The spiral flow generating pipe 60 comprises a flow channel forming pipe61 connected to the sixth water supply hose 131 for forming a flowchannel of water in the inside thereof, and at least one vane forguiding water to advance while rotating in a certain direction in theflow channel forming pipe 61. In a case where the vane is provided witha plurality of vanes, the space in the flow channel forming pipe 61 ispartitioned into spaces by the respective vanes, and the vanes form flowchannels for independently guiding water. Hereinafter, a case wherefirst and second vanes 63 and 65 rotating in the same direction areformed will be described as an example.

A vane shaft 62 is formed at the center of the flow channel forming pipe61, and the vanes 63 and 65 are formed while connecting the innercircumferential surface of the flow channel forming pipe 61 and the vaneshaft 62. The vanes 63 and 65 advance in the length direction of thevane shaft while being rotated along the circumference of the vane shaft62. The boundary between the inner side of the vane 63 or 65 and thevane shaft 62 and the boundary between the outer side of the vane 63 or65 and the flow channel forming pipe 61 form a pair of spiral curvesparallel with each other.

Water is transformed into a spiral flow while being guided along thevanes 63 and 65 in the flow channel forming pipe 61. The watertransformed into the spiral flow is evenly sprayed into the drum 134 bythe rotation force thereof.

The vane shaft 62 is not necessarily extended, corresponding to theentire length of the flow channel forming pipe 61, but extended shorteralong the vane shaft 62 than the entire length of the flow channelforming pipe 61. In this case, the finish end 63 b or 65 b of the vanes63 or 65, at which the rotation of the water is finished in the flowchannel forming pipe 61, are preferably extended up to the end portionof the flow channel forming pipe 61.

The first and second vanes 63 and 65 are preferably formed to have noportion at which the first and second vanes 63 and 65 overlap with eachother. Therefore, the position relationship between the start end 63 aof the first vane 63 and the finish end 65 b of the second vane 65 isrelative to that between the finish end 63 b of the first vane 63 andthe start end 65 a of the second vane 65. The rotation angle from thestart end 63 a to the finish end 63 b of the first vane 63 is alsorelative to that from the start end 65 a to the finish end 65 b of thesecond vane 65.

For example, if the first vane 63 is rotated by an angle x while beingextended from the start end 63 a to the finish end 63 b, the start andfinish ends 65 a and 65 b of the second vane 65 are necessarily formedin a region except the region in which the first vane 63 is formed onthe plane viewed along the vane shaft 62. The second vane 65 is rotatedin the range where an angle except the rotation angle of the first vane63, i.e., an angle of (360-x) degrees is set to the maximum value whilebeing extended from the start end 65 a to the finish end 65 b.

That is, if the structure of any one of the first and second vanes 63and 65 is determined within the range where the first and second vanes63 and 65 do not overlap with each other, variables such as the startend, finish end, extension length and maximum rotation angle of theother are limited to a predetermined range.

The spiral flow generating pipe 60 may be formed through injectionmolding. In this case, it is required a careful design for easyextraction from a mold is required, in consideration of the structuresof the vanes 63 and 65 formed in the spiral flow generating pipe 60. Thefirst and second vanes 63 and 65 do not necessarily overlap with eachother as described above. In addition, when viewing the first and secondvanes 63 and 65 along the length direction of the vane shaft 62, apredetermined interval is preferably formed between the start end 63 aof the first vane 63 and the finish end 65 b of the second vane 65.Similarly, a predetermined interval is preferably formed between thefinish end 63 b of the first vane 63 and the start end 65 a of thesecond vane 65.

Meanwhile, since it is sufficient that the movement of a core ispossible in the injection molding, the interval between the start end 63a of the first vane 63 and the finish end 65 b of the second vane 65 orthe interval between the finish end 63 b of the first vane 63 and thestart end 65 a of the second vane 65 may have a small value. Theextension length or rotation angle of the first or second vane 63 or 65,which is lost by the interval, is very small, which can be neglected.

In the range where the first and second vanes 63 and 65 do not overlapwith each other, the first vane 63 may be substantially rotated by 180degrees while advancing from the start end 63 a to the finish end 63 bso as to have the maximum extension length of the first vane 63, and thesecond vane 65 may be substantially rotated by 180 degrees whileadvancing from the start end 65 a to the finish end 65 b so as to havethe maximum extension length of the second vane 65 (Strictly speaking,there exists a loss angle caused by the interval between the start end63 a of the first vane 63 and the finish end 65 b of the second vane 65or the interval between the finish end 63 b of the first vane 63 and thestart end 65 a of the second vane 65, and hence the rotation angle ofeach vane is less than 180 degrees). In this case, the start end 63 a ofthe first vane 63 and the start end 65 a of the second vane 65 arepositioned symmetrical to each other about the vane shaft 62, and thefinish end 63 b of the first vane 63 and the finish end 65 b of thesecond vane 65 are also positioned symmetrical to each other about thevane shaft 62.

The finish end 63 b or 65 b of each vane forms a predetermined anglewith a discharge port 62 h about the vane shaft 62. For example, in FIG.8B, the angle made by the discharge hole 52 h of the spiral nozzle cap50 and the start end 63 a of the first vane 63 about the vane shaft 62is represented as an angle (45 degrees) between A1 and A2. Thisindicates that the angle made by the discharge hole 52 h and the finishend 63 b of the first vane 63 is 135 degrees.

The impingement surface 55 may comprise a curved surface portion 53 forguiding the water bumped against the impingement surface 55 to besprayed downward, and first and second descent guidance surfaces 53 aand 53 b extended to have a gradient at both sides thereof. Here, thefirst and second descent guidance surfaces 53 a and 53 b may be extendedto have different gradients.

Particularly, the gradients of the first and second descent guidancesurfaces 53 a and 53 b may be determined in consideration of theposition of the spiral nozzle 50 and 60 on the gasket 120. That is, in acase where the spiral nozzle 50 and 60 is not positioned on the verticalcenter line H of the gasket 120 but positioned biased to one side, thegradients of the first and second descent guidance surfaces 53 a and 53b may be set different from each other so that water can be evenlysprayed into the drum 134. Preferably, the descent guidance surface 53 aguiding the water sprayed into a region belonging to the spiral nozzle50 and 60 about the vertical center line H has a greater gradient thanthe other descent guidance surface 53 b. In this embodiment describedwith reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the steam nozzle 70 and 80 is alignedon the vertical center line H of the gasket 120. Therefore, the spiralnozzle 50 and 60 is disposed in a right region about the vertical centerline H. In this case, the gradient of the first descent guidance surface53 a guiding most of the water sprayed into the right region is formedgreater than that of the second descent guidance surface 53 b.

Meanwhile, the reason why the first and second descent guidance surfaces53 a and 53 b are formed to have different gradients is that althoughthe spiral nozzle 50 and 60 is disposed at the position biased to oneside from the vertical center line H, the water can be sprayed whileavoiding the separation preventing protrusion 121 respectively formed atthe positions symmetrical to each other about the vertical center lineH. Since the spiral nozzle 50 and 60 is not positioned on the verticalcenter line H, the position relationship between the spiral nozzle 50and 60 and any one separation preventing protrusion 121 is differentfrom that between the spiral nozzle 50 and 60 and the other separationpreventing protrusion 121. Therefore, spray patterns of water throughthe first and second descent guidance surfaces 53 a and 53 b arenecessarily guided different from each other so that the water issprayed while avoiding both the separation preventing protrusions 121.To this end, the plan for differentiating the gradient of the firstdescent guidance surface 53 a from that of the second descent guidancesurface 53 b can be considered.

Meanwhile, a barrier 56 for limiting the lateral movement of the waterflowing along each guidance surface may be formed on at least one of thefirst and second descent guidance surfaces 53 a and 53 b. Particularly,the barrier 56 may be formed on any one of the first and second descentguidance surfaces 53 a and 53 b, in consideration of the rotationdirection of the water in the spiral flow generating pipe 60. That is,since the water in the spiral flow generating pipe 60 is rotated by thevanes 63 and 65, the flow rate of the water guided along the firstdescent guidance surface 53 a and the flow rate of the water guidedalong the second descent guidance surface 53 b have different valuesfrom each other, and there may occur a problem in that the water isdistributed to the gasket 120 at the side where the water is guided at arelatively strong flow rate of the first and second descent guidancesurfaces 53 a and 53 b. Therefore, the barrier 56 may be formed on atleast one of the first and second descent guidance surfaces 53 a and 53b. Preferably, the barrier 56 is formed at the side where the water witha greater flow rate is guided among the first and second descentguidance surfaces 53 a and 53 b, in consideration of the rotationdirections of the vanes 63 and 65.

Referring to FIG. 8A, in this embodiment, the rotation direction of thewater in the spiral flow generating pipe 60 is clockwise (viewed fromthe top to the bottom in FIG. 7), and accordingly, the water with agreat flow rate is guided along the second descent guidance surface 53b, rather than the first descent guidance surface 53 a. Thus, thebarrier 56 is formed on the second descent guidance surface 53 b.

As described above, the first descent guidance surface 53 a is formed tohave a greater gradient than the second descent guidance surface 53 b,and the barrier 56 is formed on the second descent guidance surface 53b. However, which gradient of the first and second descent guidancesurfaces 53 a and 53 b is to be formed greater than the other and whichone of the first and second descent guidance surfaces 53 a and 53 b thebarrier 56 is to be formed on are preferably determined bycomprehensively considering various variables. The variables may be aposition of the spiral nozzle 50 and 60 on the gasket, a position of theseparation preventing protrusion 121, a spray angle of water, at whichthe water can be sprayed while avoiding the door glass 118 a protrudedinside the drum 134, etc.

The steam nozzle 70 and 80 is used to spray the steam supplied throughthe steam supply hose 137 into the drum 134. The steam nozzle 70 and 80may comprise a steam inlet pipe 70 fixed to the gasket 120 and connectedto the steam supply hose 137, and a steam nozzle cap 80 having a steamspray hole 82 h through which the steam flowed in through the steaminlet pipe 70 is sprayed into the drum 134. The steam nozzle cap 80 andspiral nozzle cap 50 are formed as a one body and make up nozzle cap190. In this case, the nozzle unit 161 may be configured as an assemblyobtained by integrally coupling the spiral flow generating pipe 60, thesteam inlet pipe 70 and the nozzle cap 190, which are respectivelyinjection-molded using separate members.

FIG. 9 illustrates a gasket nozzle. FIG. 10 is a perspective view takenalong line D-D of FIG. 9. FIG. 11 schematically illustrates a pattern inwhich washing water is sprayed through gasket nozzles.

Referring to FIGS. 9 to 11, the gasket 120 may comprise a casingconnecting portion 128 connected to the casing 110, particularly thefront cover 112, a tub connecting portion 126 connected to the tub 132,and a folding portion 127 folded/unfolded by vibration of the tub 132.

The first and second gasket nozzles 160 and 170 are disposed symmetricalto each other about the vertical center line H on the gasket 120, butthe structures of the first and second gasket nozzles 160 and 170 aresubstantially identical to each other. Hereinafter, the second gasketnozzle 170 will be mainly described.

The gasket nozzle 170 comprises a spray guidance surface 171 guidingwater to be upwardly sprayed toward the inside of the drum 134 byrefracting the advancing direction of water flowed in through an inlet177 a communicating with the connector 124, and a plurality ofprotrusions 172 arranged along the width direction of the spray guidancesurface 171 on the spray guidance surface 171.

The width of the spray guidance surface 171 is gradually widened alongthe advancing direction of the water. In FIG. 9, the spray guidancesurface 171 at the start end where the guidance of the water flowed infrom the inlet 177 a is started has a width D1, and the spray guidancesurface 171 at the finish end where the water guided along the sprayguidance surface 171 is sprayed while being separated has a width D2(D1<D2).

The protrusions 172 are preferably formed adjacent to the finish end ofthe spray guidance surface 171. The width of the spray guidance surface171 at the finish end of the spray guidance surface 171 may bemaximized.

The gasket nozzle 170 may comprise an inlet forming surface 177 havingthe inlet 177 a through which the inflow of water is made whilecommunicating with the connector 124, and a pair of flow channelnarrowing surfaces 174 for reinforcing the flow rate of water advancingtoward the finish end of the spray guidance surface 171 by limiting thelateral flow of water discharged from the inlet 177 a to the sprayguidance surface 171. The water passing through the inlet 177 a isguided along a flow channel surrounded by the spray guidance surface 171and the pair of flow channel narrowing surfaces 174 respectively formedat both sides of the spray guidance surface 171.

An interval forming surface 173 is used to allow the spray guidancesurface 171 to be spaced apart from the inlet forming surface 177 inwhich the inlet 177 a is formed. In FIG. 9, the start end of the sprayguidance surface 171 is spaced apart by an interval corresponding to theheight W of the inlet forming surface 177 from the inlet forming surface177. Since the spray guidance surface 171 is spaced apart from the inletforming surface 177, it is possible to facilitate inserting and removinga mold for forming the inlet 177 a in the injection molding.

The lateral flow of water flowed in through the connector 124 is limitedby the flow channel narrowing surface 174 from when the water isdischarged from the inlet 177 a. Thus, the water advancing along thespray guidance surface 171 may be in a fast and compressed state. Thewater can be smoothly sprayed through the gasket nozzle 170 even whenthe water pressure is low.

More specifically, the spray guidance surface 171 is formed so that awidth thereof is gradually widened from a start end to a finish end. Andthe inlet forming surface 177 is formed so that a width thereof isgradually widened from a start end to a finish end. When assuming thatthere exists a virtual connection surface formed as one plane whichconnects both lateral sides of the spray guidance surface 171 and theinlet forming surface 177, a protruding portion may be formed toprotrude inside the gasket nozzle 170 from the virtual connectionsurface. In this case, the lateral flow of the water is limitedcorresponding to the length of the inner width of the gasket nozzlereduced by the protruding portion, and accordingly, the flow rate of thewater is increased. Here, as can be seen with reference to FIGS. 9 and10, the gasket nozzle 170 may have at least two surfaces 174 and 175protruded inward from the virtual connection surface so as to form theprotruding portion. Among these surfaces, a surface extended from thestart end of the spray guidance surface 171 may be defined as the flowchannel narrowing surface 174, and the other surfaces 175 are surfacesdependently formed for the purpose of connection between the flowchannel narrowing surface 174 and the spray guidance surface 171 or theinlet forming surface 177.

Meanwhile, the flow channel narrowing surface 174 may be geometricallydefined between two boundaries extended from the interval formingsurface 173. A first boundary 174 a is one extended while limiting thewidth of the spray guidance surface 171 from the point at which theinterval forming surface 173 and the spray guidance surface 171 meeteach other, and a second boundary 174 b is one extended while graduallyconverging to the first boundary 174 a from the point at which theinterval forming surface 173 and the inlet forming surface 177 meet eachother. In this case, the first boundary 174 a may be extended from thestart end of the spray guidance surface 171.

Meanwhile, the gasket nozzle 170 is protruded from the inside of thegasket 120. Outer curved surface portions 176 may be respectively formedat both outer ends of the gasket nozzle 170 in order to minimize damageof laundry when the laundry is rotated and bumped against the gasketnozzle 170. The outer curved surface portion 176 may have the smallestcurvature value at a portion where the outer curved surface portion 176meets the inner circumferential surface of the gasket 120.

The gasket 120 may be provided with a nozzle avoiding portion 127 aforming a predetermined interval t between the nozzle avoiding portion127 a and the gasket nozzle 170 while avoiding the gasket nozzle 170.Although the gasket 120 is deformed in the vibration of the tub 132, itis possible to prevent deformation caused by compression between thegasket 120 and gasket nozzle 170 and a change in spray direction of thegasket nozzle 170 due to the deformation through the buffering effectcaused by the interval t formed between the nozzle avoiding portion 127a and the gasket nozzle 170.

Meanwhile, since the advancing direction of the water flowed in throughthe inlet 177 a is refracted while being bumped against the sprayguidance surface 171, the water is guided in such a manner that thewater is compressed while applying a predetermined positive pressure tothe spray guidance surface 171. Thus, the spray of the water through thegasket nozzle 170 has the form of a water film basically having aremarkably thin thickness as compared with the width thereof.

However, when the water passes over the protrusions 172 formed on thespray guidance surface 171, the thickness of the water film isrelatively thick between the protrusions 172, and the thickness of thewater film is relatively thin at a peak portion of the protrusion 172.Hence, the final spray pattern of the water has a form in which aplurality of main spray flows with a strong intensity of water flow areconnected by the thin water film due to the difference in thicknessbetween the water films. The water sprayed in such a pattern can removea contaminant adhered to laundry with a strong impact by the main sprayflow, and the laundry is bent and stretched, thereby improving washingperformance. Further, the spray area of water can be sufficientlyensured by the water film.

FIG. 12 illustrates a control panel according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

The control panel 180 is disposed at a front upper portion of the casing110. The control panel 180 comprises a course selection unit 182 whichallows a user to select a washing course, a course display unit 181which displays selectable washing courses, and an input/output unit 184which receives various operation commands input by the user, such asoperation time for each cycle and reservation, and displays courseinformation according to a user's course selection, informationaccording to another command input by the user and an operation state inthe operation of the washing machine.

The course selection unit 182 receives a washing course selected by theuser. The course selection unit 182 may be formed using various types ofinput devices such as a button and a touch screen. In this embodiment,the course selection unit 182 is a knob.

The washing course is used to determine steps of each cycle throughoutwhole washing process according to the kind or function of laundry. Inthis embodiment, the washing course is divided into a COTTON/NORMALcourse, a TOWELS course, a BULKY/LARGE course, a BRIGHT WHITE course, aSANITARY course, an ALLERGIENE course, a TUB CLEAN course, a HEAVY DUTYcourse, a PERM. PRESS course, a HAND WASH/WOOL course, a DELICATEScourse, a SPEED WASH course and a DOWNLOAD course.

Each course may be divided into a washing cycle, a rinsing cycle, adewatering cycle, a complex cycle, etc. A step of water supply, washing,rinsing, drainage, dewatering, drying, etc. is performed in each cycle.

The course display unit 181 displays washing courses which can beselected by the user through the course selection unit 182. The coursedisplay unit 181 may be integrally formed with the course selection unit182 so as to be implemented as a touch screen. In this embodiment, thecourse display unit 181 is displayed by being printed around theknob-shaped course selection unit 182.

In this embodiment, the COTTON/NORMAL course, the TOWELS course, theBULKY/LARGE course, the BRIGHT WHITE course, the SANITARY course, theALLERGIENE course, the TUB CLEAN course, the HEAVY DUTY course, thePERM. PRESS course, the HAND WASH/WOOL course, the DELICATES course, theSPEED WASH course and the DOWNLOAD course are displayed in the coursedisplay unit 181.

The input/output unit 184 receives various kinds of commands input bythe user, and various types of information are displayed in theinput/output unit 184. The input/output unit 184 may be configured witha plurality of buttons and a screen or may be implemented as a touchscreen. The input/output unit 184 comprises a washing time display unit186 for displaying an expected washing time, and a turbo wash button 185for setting turbo wash in which the laundry is washed by circulatingwater contained in the tub 132 and spraying the water into the drum 134through the gasket nozzles 160 and 170 and/or turbo wash for performingturbo rinsing in which the laundry is rinsed by circulating watercontained in the tub 132 and spraying the water into the drum 134through the gasket nozzles 160 and 170 or turbo rinsing in which thelaundry is rinsed by spraying the water into the drum 134 through thespiral nozzle 50 and 60 for transforming the water to a spiral flow.

The washing time display unit 186 displays an expected washing timebefore washing is started. The washing time display unit 186 displays anexpected washing time according to a washing course input through thecourse selection unit 182. If the turbo wash is set through the turbowash button 185, the washing time display unit 186 displays an expectedwashing time changed according to the turbo wash. The washing timedisplay unit 186 displays a washing time remaining during the washing.

The turbo wash button 185 is a button through which the user sets theturbo wash. If the user presses the turbo wash button 185, the turbowash is set. Then, if the user again presses the turbo wash button 185,the turbo wash is canceled so that general wash is set. If the turbowash is set, the turbo wash button 185 emits light so as to display thatthe turbo wash has been set.

If the turbo wash is set, the washing time display unit 186 displays anexpected washing time changed according to the turbo wash. If the turbowash is performed, the expected washing time decreases in the samewashing course. Thus, if the turbo wash is set, the expected washingtime displayed in the washing time display unit 186 decreases. If thegeneral wash is set due to the cancellation of the turbo wash, theexpected washing time displayed in the washing time display unit 186increases.

The turbo wash is used to perform turbo washing in which the laundry iswashed by rotating the drum 134, circulating water mixed with a washingdetergent and then spraying the water into the drum 134 through thegasket nozzles 160 and 170 in the selected washing course and/or turborinsing in the laundry is rinsed by rotating the drum 134, circulatingwater mixed with a rinsing detergent and then spraying the water intothe drum 134 through the gasket nozzles 160 and 170. The turbo washingand turbo rinsing will be described in detail later with reference toFIG. 14.

The turbo wash is used to perform penetration rinsing in which thelaundry is rinsed by rotating the drum 134 at a high speed so that thelaundry is rotated while being adhered to the drum 134, transformingwater not mixed with a detergent into a spiral flow and then sprayinginto the drum 134 through the spiral nozzle 50 and 60 in the selectedwashing course. The penetration rinsing will be described in detaillater with reference to FIG. 14 penetration rinsing

The turbo wash cannot be performed in all the washing courses.Therefore, the turbo wash cannot be set in some washing courses. Theturbo wash may be basically set in a specific washing course, or may bebasically canceled in another washing course.

A whirlwind-shaped turbo wash icon is displayed in the turbo wash button185. The turbo wash icon is displayed next to the name of a washingcourse in which the turbo wash is selectable in the course display unit181. That is, in the washing course having the turbo wash icon displayednext thereto in the course display unit 181, the turbo wash cannot beset.

The presence of setting of the turbo wash and the presence of basicsetting of the turbo wash are shown in the following Table 1.

TABLE 1 Impossible to set HAND WASH/WOOL course, turbo wash DELICATEScourse Possible to Basic setting COTTON/NORMAL course, PERM. set turboof turbo PRESS course wash wash Basic TOWELS course, BULKY/LARGE course,cancellation BRIGHT WHITE course, SANITARY of turbo wash course,ALLERGIENE course, TUB CLEAN course, HEAVY DUTY course, SPEED WASHcourse

Referring to Table 1, the turbo wash is impossible in the HAND WASH/WOOLcourse or the DETAILS course. Therefore, in a case where the HANDWASH/WOOL course or the DETAILS course is selected in the courseselection unit 182, the turbo washing is not set even though the userpresses the turbo wash button 185.

The turbo wash can be set in the COTTON/NORMAL course or the PERM. PRESScourse, and is basically set. Therefore, in a case where theCOTTON/NORMAL course or the PERM. PRESS course is selected in the courseselection unit 182, the turbo wash is basically set. If the user pressesthe turbo wash button 185, the turbo wash is canceled.

The turbo wash can be set in the TOWELS course, the BULKY/LARGE course,the BRIGHT WHITE course, the SANITARY course, the ALLERGIENE course, theTUB CLEAN course, the HEAVY DUTY course or the SPEED WASH course, and isbasically canceled. Therefore, in a case where the TOWELS course, theBULKY/LARGE course, the BRIGHT WHITE course, the SANITARY course, theALLERGIENE course, the TUB CLEAN course, the HEAVY DUTY course or theSPEED WASH course is selected in the course selection unit 182, theturbo wash is basically canceled. If the user presses the turbo washbutton 185, the turbo wash is set.

In the DOWNLOAD course, the presence of possible setting of the turbowash and the presence of basic setting of the turbo wash are determinedaccording to a course downloaded from a network or peripheral device.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a washing machine according to anembodiment of the present invention.

A water level sensor 145 senses a water level of water contained in thetub 132. The water level sensor 145 is a pressure sensor for sensing anair pressure in a water level sensing pipe (not shown) connected to thetub 132. The water level sensor 145 senses the water level of the watercontained in the tub 132 from a sensed air pressure.

A controller 199 controls the entire operation of the washing machineunder an operation command that the course selection unit 182 and/or theinput/output unit 184 receives. The controller 199 is preferablyprovided in the control panel 180. The controller 199 may be configuredwith a microcomputer (MICOM) and other electronic components. Thecontroller 199 determines the presence of progressing of each cycle, thepresence of performing of operations such as water supply, washing,rinsing, drainage, dewatering, and drying in each cycle, time, repeatedfrequency, etc. according to the washing course selected through thecourse selection unit 182 and the presence of setting of the turbo washthrough the turbo wash button 185.

The controller 199 controls the water supply unit 136, the motor 141 andthe pump 148 according to the selected washing course or the presence ofsetting of the turbo wash.

FIG. 14 illustrates whole cycles of a washing method according to anembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 illustrates rotation speedsof a drum in a complex cycle in the washing method shown in FIG. 14.

The washing method according to the embodiment of the present inventionmay be performed when a user sets the turbo wash through the courseselection unit 182 and/or the turbo wash button 185. According to anembodiment, the general COTTON/NORMAL course may become the washingmethod described later.

A washing cycle 210 is a cycle in which a contaminant is removed fromlaundry by getting the laundry wet using water mixed with a washingdetergent and then rotating the drum 134. In the washing methodaccording to this embodiment, the washing cycle 20 comprises watersupply 211, turbo washing 212 and drainage 213.

If the washing cycle 210 is started, the controller 199 informs the userthat the washing cycle 210 is to be started by displaying a washing iconin the progress display of the input/output unit 184.

In the water supply 211, water is supplied into the tub 132 from anexternal water source. The water supply 211 comprises laundry quantitysensing 211 a, initial water supply 211 b, laundry wetting 211 c andadditional water supply 211 d.

In the laundry quantity sensing 211 a, the amount of the laundry(hereinafter, referred to as ‘laundry quantity’) received in the drum134 is sensed. The laundry quantity may be sensed using various methods.In this embodiment, the laundry quantity is sensed using a method inwhich the controller 199 senses a deceleration time after the motor 141rotates the drum 134 at a predetermined speed for a predetermined time.

As the deceleration time of the drum 134 increases, the level of thelaundry quantity is increases. According to an embodiment, thecontroller 199 may compute the laundry quantity by sensing anacceleration time when the drum 134 is accelerated. The controller 199determines the amount of water supplied into the tub 132 in the initialwater supply 211 b and the additional water supply 211 d, and determinesthe amount of water sprayed into the drum 134 in the penetration rinsing222 or 228. The controller 199 determines an operation time for each ofthe other cycles.

In the initial water supply 211 b, the water mixed with the washingdetergent is supplied into the tub 132, and the water not mixed with thedetergent is supplied into the drum 134. In the initial water supply 211b, the water not mixed with the detergent may be supplied into the drum134, and the water mixed with the washing detergent may be then suppliedinto the tub 132. The controller 199 opens the first water supply valve136 a of the water supply unit 136 so that the water is not mixed withthe washing detergent in the detergent box 114 but flowed into the tub132 through the water supply bellows 133. Then, the controller 199 opensthe second water supply valve 136 b of the water supply unit 136 so thatthe water is mixed with the washing detergent in the detergent box 114and then flowed into the tub 132 through the water supply bellows 133.

The supplying of the water into the tub 132 by opening the first watersupply valve 136 a in the initial water supply 211 b may be divided intointermittent water supply and continuous water supply. In theintermittent water supply, water is supplied by intermittently openingthe first water supply valve 136 a. In the continuous water supply,water is supplied by continuously opening the first water supply valve136 a.

The controller 199 may determine the presence of progressing of theturbo wash by sensing a water pressure of the cold water source C.W,based on the time at which the water reaches a target water level in thecontinuous water supply. This will be described in detail later withreference to FIG. 16.

According to an embodiment, in the initial water supply 211 b, thecontroller 199 opens the third water supply valve 136 c so that thewater not mixed with the washing detergent is sprayed into the drum 134through the spiral nozzle 50 and 60. Then, the controller 199 opens thesecond water supply valve 136 b so that the water is mixed with thewashing detergent in the detergent box 114 and then flowed into the tub132 through the water supply bellows 133.

In the initial water supply 211 b, the hot water valve 136 e of thewater supply unit 136 is opened so that hot water is flowed into the tub132.

The initial water supply 211 b is performed until the water reaches atarget water level. The target water level is determined by thecontroller 199 according to the laundry quantity sensed before theinitial water supply 211 b or selected course. In this embodiment, thetarget water level is set to a degree where water slightly ascends inthe drum 134. In the laundry wetting 211 c, the amount of water whichcan be circulated in the drum 134 is suitable for the target waterlevel.

In the initial water supply 211 b, the water level of water ispreferably sensed by the water level sensor 145. If the water is flowedinto the tub 132 up to the target water level, the controller 199 cutsoff the valve of the water supply unit 136, thereby finishing theinitial water supply 211 b.

In the laundry wetting 211 c, the controller 199 controls the drum 134to be rotated by driving the motor 141 so that the laundry is evenly wetin the water mixed with the washing detergent and the washing detergentis resolved in the water. According to an embodiment, in the laundrywetting 211 c, the controller 199 operates the pump 148, and the wateris circulated along the circulation hoses 151 and 152, so that the watercan be sprayed into the drum 134 through the gasket nozzles 160 and 170.

In the additional water supply 211 d, as the target water level islowered due to the laundry wet in the water, additional water issupplied into the drum. If the controller 199 opens the first watersupply valve 131 a, the second water supply valve 131 b or variousvalves of the water supply unit 136 in the additional water supply 211d, the water can be supplied into the tub 132 from the external watersource.

If the water is flowed into the tub 132 up to the target level, thecontroller 199 finishes the additional water supply 211 d by cutting offthe first water supply valve 131 a, the second water supply valve 131 bor various valves of the water supply unit 136.

In a case where the laundry is sufficiently wet in the initial watersupply 211 b, the water level is not lowered in the laundry wetting 211c. Therefore, the additional water supply 211 d may be omitted.

In the turbo washing 212, the contaminant adhered to the laundry isremoved by rotating the drum 134 containing the laundry, circulating thewater mixed with the washing detergent and then spraying the water intothe drum 134 through the gasket nozzles 160 and 170. In the turbowashing 212, the controller 199 controls the motor 141 to rotate thedrum 134 at various speeds or in various directions so that the laundryis repetitively lifted and then drops. Accordingly, the contaminantadhered to the laundry is removed by applying, to the laundry,mechanical forces such as a bending and stretching force, a frictionalforce and a shock force. According to an embodiment, in a case where thedrum 134 is rotated at 108 rpm or more, which is a speed at which thedrum 134 is rotated in the state in which the laundry is attachedthereto, laundry distributing described later may be performed beforethe turbo washing 212.

In order to prevent overheating of the motor 141 in the turbo washing212, the controller 199 may control the driving of the motor 141 to bepaused at an interval of a few seconds to a few minutes.

The turbo washing 212 is performed when the turbo wash is set by theuser through the course selection unit 182 and/or the turbo wash button185.

In the turbo washing 212, the controller 199 controls the pump 148 to beoperated so that the water mixed with the washing detergent in the tub132 is circulated along the circulation hoses 151 and 152 and thensprayed into the drum 134 through the gasket nozzles 160 and 170. In acase where the amount of the circulated water is too much, many bubblesmay be generated. Therefore, the amount of the water is preferably setto a degree where the water can be circulated.

In a case where it is decided that the pump 148 is false in the turbowashing 212, the turbo wash is canceled, and general wash may beperformed. This will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.17.

In a case where the laundry quantity is no less than reference laundryquantity or the selected washing course is the HEAVY DUTY course in theturbo washing 212, the controller 199 operates the pump 148 when themotor 141 is stopped, so that it is possible to prevent overheating ofthe motor 141 and to reduce maximum power consumption. This will bedescribed in detail later with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19.

In the turbo washing 212, the controller 199 may open the third watersupply valve 131 c of the water supply unit 136 so that the water isflowed in the fifth water supply hose 131 g through the distributor,mixed with a bleach in the detergent box 114 and then flowed into thetub 132 through the water supply bellows 133. The supply of the bleachis performed until the water reaches a target water level. If the watermixed with the bleach is flowed into the tub 132 up to the target waterlevel, the controller 199 cuts off the third water supply valve 131 c ofthe water supply unit 136. The supply of the water mixed with the bleachis preferably performed as the last course of the turbo washing 212 justbefore the turbo washing 212 is finished.

In the drainage 213, the water in the tub 132 is drained to the outsideof the tub 132. In the drainage 213, the controller 199 operates thepump 148 so that the water in the tub 132 is drained to the outsidealong the drainage hose 149. In the drainage 213, the drum 134 may bestopped, but may be rotated while maintaining the speed in the turbowashing 212.

In the washing cycle 210 described above, the turbo washing 212 may beperformed as the general washing according to the setting of the turbowash. In a case where the general wash is set as the turbo wash iscanceled, the turbo washing 212 is performed as the general washing.

In the general washing, the controller 199 controls the motor 141 torotate the drum 134. However, since the pump 148 is not operated, thewater is not circulated. Accordingly, the water is not sprayed into thedrum 134 through the gasket nozzles 160 and 170.

The complex cycle 220 is a cycle for removing the detergent remaining inthe laundry and dewatering the laundry, in which rinsing and dewateringcycles are combined in the general washing method. The complex cycle 220comprises laundry distributing 221, penetration rinsing 222, simpledewatering 223, water supply 224, turbo rinsing 225, drainage 226,laundry distributing 227, penetration rinsing 228 and main dewatering229. If the complex cycle 220 is started, the controller 199 preferablydisplays a rinsing icon and/or a dewatering icon in the progress displayof the input/output unit 184.

In the laundry distributing 221, the laundry is distributed by repeatinga process of maintaining a constant speed of the drum 134 and thendecelerating the drum after the drum 134 is accelerated. In thepenetration rinsing 222 and/or the simple dewatering 223, there occurs aphenomenon that the laundry is biased to one side due to tangling of thelaundry. Therefore, eccentricity in which one side of the drum 134increases in weight about the center of the drum 134 may caused. Sincethe eccentricity of the laundry becomes a cause in which noise andvibration are generated in the high-speed rotation of the drum 134, thelaundry is evenly distributed before the penetration rinsing 222 and/orthe simple dewatering 223. The laundry distributing 221 is performed byrepeating the process of maintaining a constant speed of the drum 134and then decelerating the drum after the drum 134 is accelerated.

According to an embodiment, in the laundry distributing 221, the watermay be sprayed toward the laundry through the gasket nozzles 160 and 170or the spiral nozzle 50 and 60.

In the penetration rinsing 222, when the laundry is rotated by therotation of the drum 134 while being attached to the drum 134, theremaining detergent and contaminant are removed by spraying the waternot mixed with the detergent into the drum 134 through the spiral nozzle50 and 60 so that the water passes through the laundry.

In the penetration rinsing 222, the controller 199 controls the motor141 to rotate the drum 134 so that the laundry is adhered to the drum134, and opens the third water supply valve 131 c so that the water issprayed into the drum 134 through the spiral nozzle 50 and 60. In thiscase, the controller 199 preferably operates the pump 148 so that thewater in the tub 132 is drained to the outside along the drainage hose149.

The penetration rinsing 222 is performed when the turbo wash is set bythe user through the course selection unit 82 and/or the turbo washbutton 185.

In the penetration rinsing 222, the drum 134 is rotated at a speed 1G,i.e., 108 rpm or more, at which the laundry is rotated while beingattached to the drum 134. In the penetration rinsing 222, the laundry isnot preferably separated from the drum 134 while being attached to thedrum 134. In this case, that the laundry is not separated from the drum134 includes a meaning that a portion of the laundry is temporarilyseparated from in an exceptional situation, and means that most of thelaundry is adhered to the drum 134 for most time.

In the penetration rinsing 222, the drum 134 is preferably maintained ata constant speed. According to an embodiment, the drum 134 may beaccelerated. In this embodiment, in the penetration rinsing 222, thedrum 134 is accelerated from 400 to 600 rpm and then maintains 600 rpm.

In the simple dewatering 223, the drum 134 is rotated at a high speed sothat the water is separated from the laundry. The controller 199 closesthe third water supply valve 131 c after the penetration rinsing 222 sothat the spray of the water is stopped, and consecutively rotates oraccelerates the drum 134 at a speed or more, where the laundry isrotated while being attached to the drum 134, without decelerating orstopping the drum 134.

Hereinafter, the term “consecutively” means that the drum 134 is rotatedwithout stopping between steps, and includes a meaning that the speed ofthe drum 134 is changed by being accelerated or decelerated.

In the simple dewatering 223, the laundry is not necessarily dewateredto a degree where the laundry is dried, and therefore, the drum 134 ispreferably rotated at about 700 rpm. Preferably, in the simpledewatering 223, the controller 199 intermittently operates the pump 148so that the water in the tub 132 is drained to the outside along thedrainage hose 149.

The simple dewatering 223 is performed by accelerating the drum 134 withstopping or decelerating the drum 134 in the penetration rinsing 222, sothat the laundry distributing is not separately performed between thepenetration rinsing 222 and the simple dewatering 223. That is, thepenetration rinsing 222 and the simple dewatering 223 are consecutivelyperformed without the laundry distributing, so that it is possible toreduce the entire time and to minimize laundry damage.

According to an embodiment, the drum 134 is preferably maintained at aspeed or more, where the laundry is rotated while being attached to thedrum 134, so that the laundry distributing is unnecessary even thoughthe drum 134 is decelerated between the penetration rinsing 222 and thesimple dewatering 223. That is, the drum 134 is preferably rotated at aspeed 1G, i.e., 108 rpm or more, where the laundry is rotated whilebeing attached to the drum 134 from the penetration rinsing 222 to thesimple dewatering 223, so that the laundry is not separated from thedrum 134 while being attached to the drum 134.

The penetration rinsing 222 described above is a process substantiallyperformed in the simple dewatering 223. In the penetration rinsing 222,when the simple dewatering 223 is performed after the laundrydistributing 221, the controller 199 opens the third water supply valve131 c so that the penetration rinsing 222 is performed while the wateris sprayed into the drum 134 through the spiral nozzle 50 and 60. Thus,in a case where the turbo wash is set, the penetration rinsing 222 maybe performed any time when the drum 134 is accelerated or maintains itsspeed during the simple dewatering. Alternatively, the penetrationrinsing 222 may be divided into a plurality of sub-steps to beperformed. That is, the penetration rinsing 222 may be performed anytime not only before the simple dewatering 223 after the laundrydistributing 221 but also in the middle of the simple dewatering 223.

However, the penetration rinsing 222 is not preferably performed at theend of the simple dewatering 223, and the simple dewatering 223 isnecessarily resumed after the penetration rinsing 222.

In a case where the turbo wash is not set, the water is not sprayed intothe drum 134 through the spiral nozzle 50 and 60 during the simpledewatering 223, and therefore, the penetration rinsing 222 is notperformed.

Like the water supply 211 in the washing cycle 210 described above, thewater is supplied into the tub 132 from the external water source in thewater supply 224. The water supply 224 may comprise initial watersupply, laundry wetting and additional water supply.

In the water supply 224, the controller 199 opens the first and secondwater supply valves 136 a and 136 b so that the water is mixed with arinsing detergent in the detergent box 114 and then flowed into the tub132 through the water supply bellows 133. The rinsing detergent isgenerally a fabric softener, but may include various functionaldetergents such as a detergent for generating incense.

According to an embodiment, in the water supply 224, the controller 199may open the third water supply valve 136 c so that the water not mixedwith the washing detergent is sprayed into the drum 134 through thespiral nozzle 50 and 60.

In the water supply 224, the drum 134 is preferably stopped. However,the water supply 224 may be performed after the drum 134 is deceleratedto a speed 1G, i.e., 108 rpm or more, where the laundry is rotated whilebeing attached to the drum 134.

In the turbo rinsing 225, the remaining detergent and contaminant of thelaundry are removed by rotating the drum 134 containing the laundry,circulating the water mixed with the rinsing detergent and then sprayingthe water into the drum 134 through the gasket nozzles 160 and 170. Inthe turbo rinsing 225, the controller 199 controls the motor 141 torotate the drum 134 at various speeds or in various directions so thatthe laundry is repetitively lifted and then drops. Thus, the remainingdetergent and contaminant of the laundry is removed by applying, to thelaundry, mechanical forces such as a bending and stretching force, africtional force and a shock force. According to an embodiment, in acase where the drum 134 is rotated at 108 rpm or more, which is a speedat which the drum 134 is rotated in the state in which the laundry isattached thereto, laundry distributing described later may be performedbefore the turbo rinsing 225.

In order to prevent overheating of the motor 141 in the turbo rinsing225, the controller 199 may control the driving of the motor 141 to bepaused at an interval of a few seconds to a few minutes.

The turbo rinsing 225 is performed when the turbo wash is set by theuser through the course selection unit 182 and/or the turbo wash button185. In a case where the turbo wash is canceled so that the general washis set, the turbo rinsing 225 is performed as general rinsing. In thegeneral rinsing, the controller 199 controls the motor 141 to rotate thedrum. However, since the pump 148 is not operated, the water is notcirculated. Accordingly, the water is not sprayed into the drum 134through the gasket nozzles 160 and 170.

In the turbo rinsing 225, the controller 199 operates the pump 148 sothat the water mixed with the rinsing detergent in the tub 132 iscirculated along the circulation hoses 151 and 152 and then sprayed intothe drum 134 through the gasket nozzles 160 and 170. In a case where theamount of the circulated water is too much, many bubbles may begenerated. Therefore, the amount of the water is preferably set to adegree where the water can be circulated.

In a case where it is decided that the pump 148 is false in the turborinsing 225, the turbo wash is canceled, and the general wash may beperformed. This will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.17.

In a case where the laundry quantity is no less than reference laundryquantity or the selected washing course is the HEAVY DUTY course in theturbo rinsing 225, the controller 199 operates the pump 148 when themotor 141 is stopped, so that it is possible to prevent overheating ofthe motor 141 and to reduce maximum power consumption. This will bedescribed in detail later with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19.

Like the drainage 213 of the washing cycle 210 described above, thewater in the tub 132 is drained to the outside in the drainage 226.

Accordingly to an embodiment, the water supply 224, the turbo rinsing225 and the drainage 226 may be performed in another form or may beomitted. The water supply 224, the turbo rinsing 225 and the drainage226 may be performed in the state in which the drum 134 is not stoppedby being decelerated after the simple dewatering 223. In this case, thelaundry distributing 227 may be omitted.

Like the laundry distributing 221 described above, the laundry isdistributed by repeating a process of maintaining a constant speed ofthe drum 134 and then decelerating the drum after the drum 134 isaccelerated in the laundry distributing 227. In the laundry distributing227, the laundry is evenly distributed before the penetration rinsing228 and/or the main dewatering 228. As shown in FIG. 15, the laundrydistributing 227 is performed by repeating the process of maintaining aconstant speed of the drum 134 and then decelerating the drum after thedrum 134 is accelerated.

As described above, in the laundry distributing 227, the water can besprayed toward the laundry through the gasket nozzles 160 and 170 or thespiral nozzle 50 and 60.

Like the penetration rinsing 222 described above, in the penetrationrinsing 228, when the laundry is rotated by the rotation of the drum 134while being attached to the drum 134, the remaining detergent andcontaminant are removed by spraying the water not mixed with thedetergent into the drum 134 through the spiral nozzle 50 and 60 so thatthe water passes through the laundry.

In the penetration rinsing 228, the controller 199 controls the motor141 to rotate the drum 134 so that the laundry is adhered to the drum134, and opens the third water supply valve 131 c so that the water issprayed into the drum 134 through the spiral nozzle 50 and 60. In thiscase, the controller 199 preferably operates the pump 148 so that thewater in the tub 132 is drained to the outside along the drainage hose149.

The penetration rinsing 228 is performed when the turbo washing is setby the user through the course selection unit 182 and/or the turbo washbutton 185.

In the penetration rinsing 228, the drum 134 is rotated at a speed 1G,i.e., 108 rpm or more, at which the laundry is rotated while beingattached to the drum 134. In the penetration rinsing 228, the laundry isnot preferably separated from the drum 134 while being attached to thedrum 134.

In the penetration rinsing 228, the drum 134 is preferably maintained ata constant speed. According to an embodiment, the drum 134 may beaccelerated. In this embodiment, in the penetration rinsing 227, thedrum 134 maintains 1000 rpm and is then accelerated to 1060 rpm.Thereafter, the drum 134 maintains 1060 rpm.

Like the simple dewatering 223 described above, in the main dewatering229, the drum 134 is rotated at a high speed so that the water isseparated from the laundry. The controller 199 closes the third watersupply valve 131 c after the penetration rinsing 228 so that the sprayof the water is stopped, and consecutively rotates or accelerates thedrum 134 at a speed or more, where the laundry is rotated while beingattached to the drum 134, without decelerating or stopping the drum 134.

In the main dewatering 229, the drum 134 is preferably rotated up to themaximum speed of 1000 rpm or more so that the laundry is dried to themaximum extent. In this embodiment, the drum 134 is rotated up to 1300rpm. Preferably, in the main dewatering 229, the controllerintermittently operates the pump 148 so that the water in the tub 132 isdrained to the outside along the drainage hose 149.

The main dewatering 229 is performed by accelerating the drum 134without stopping or decelerating the drum 134 in the penetration rinsing228 so that the laundry distributing is not performed between thepenetration rinsing 228 and the main dewatering 229. The penetrationrinsing 228 and the main dewatering 229 are consecutively performedwithout the laundry distributing, so that it is possible to reduce theentire time and to minimize laundry damage.

According to an embodiment, the drum 134 is preferably maintained at aspeed or more, where the laundry is rotated while being attached to thedrum 134, so that the laundry distributing is unnecessary even thoughthe drum 134 is decelerated between the penetration rinsing 228 and themain dewatering 229. That is, the drum 134 is preferably rotated at aspeed 1G, i.e., 108 rpm or more, where the laundry is rotated whilebeing attached to the drum 134 from the penetration rinsing 228 to themain dewatering 229, so that the laundry is not separated from the drum134 while being attached to the drum 134.

The penetration rinsing 228 described above is a process substantiallyperformed in the main dewatering 229. In the penetration rinsing 228,when the main dewatering 229 is performed after the laundry distributing227, the controller 199 opens the third water supply valve 131 c so thatthe penetration rinsing 228 is performed while the water is sprayed intothe drum 134 through the spiral nozzle 50 and 60. Thus, in a case wherethe turbo wash is set, the penetration rinsing 228 may be performed anytime when the drum 134 is accelerated or maintains its speed during thesimple dewatering. Alternatively, the penetration rinsing 222 may bedivided into a plurality of sub-steps to be performed. That is, thepenetration rinsing 228 may be performed any time not only before themain dewatering 229 after the laundry distributing 227 but also in themiddle of the main dewatering 229.

However, the penetration rinsing 228 is not preferably performed at theend of the main dewatering 229, and the main dewatering 229 isnecessarily resumed after the penetration rinsing 228.

In a case where the turbo wash is not set, the water is not sprayed intothe drum 134 through the spiral nozzle 50 and 60 during the maindewatering 229, and therefore, the penetration rinsing 228 is notperformed.

Drying in which the laundry is dried by supplying hot wind into the drum134 may be performed after the main dewatering 229.

Each step of the complex cycle 220 may be modified or omitted.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a water pressure measuring method inthe washing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A user sets turbo wash through the course selection unit 182 and/or theturbo wash button 185 (S310). The turbo wash is used to perform turbowashing in which the laundry is washed by rotating the drum 134,circulating water mixed with a washing detergent and then spraying thewater into the drum 134 through the gasket nozzles 160 and 170 in theselected washing course and/or turbo rinsing in the laundry is rinsed byrotating the drum 134, circulating water mixed with a rinsing detergentand then spraying the water into the drum 134 through the gasket nozzles160 and 170.

The turbo wash is used to perform penetration rinsing in which laundryis rinsed by spraying water not mixed with a detergent into the drum 134through the spiral nozzle 50 and 60 when the laundry is rotated whilebeing attached to the drum by rotating the drum 134 in the selectedwashing course.

If washing is started after the turbo wash is set, the washing cycle 210is started so that the controller 199 performs the water supply 211. Ifthe water supply 211 is started, the laundry quantity sensing 211 a isperformed, and the initial water supply 211 b is then performed.

If the controller 199 intermittently opens the first water supply valve136 a in the initial water supply 211 b, intermittent water supply inwhich the water is flowed into the tub 132 through the water supplybellows 133 is performed (S320). In this embodiment, the intermittentwater supply is performed six times at an interval of 0.3 second.

After the intermittent water supply, the controller 199 integrates timeby operating a timer, and opens the first water supply valve 136 a sothat continuous water supply in which the water is supplied into the tub132 through the water supply bellows 133 is started (S330).

The timer is a time integrator included in the controller 199, and theoperation of the timer is started together with the starting of thecontinuous water supply. If the continuous water supply is started, thewater in the tub 132 is supplied.

The controller 199 decides whether the water level of water contained inthe tub 132, sensed by the water level sensor, reaches a target waterlevel (S340). In a case where the water level of the water does notreach the target water level, the controller 199 continuously performsthe continuous water supply so that the time is continuously integratedby the timer.

In a case where the water level of the water reaches the target waterlevel, the controller 199 finishes the continuous water supply and stopsthe operation of the timer (S350). In a case where the water level ofthe water reaches the target water level, the controller 199 closes thefirst water supply valve 136 a, and computes the integrated time bystopping the operation of the timer.

The controller 199 decides whether the continuous water supply timeintegrated by the timer, is greater than a target time (S360). Thecontroller 199 compares, with the target time, the continuous watersupply time that is a time taken until the water level of the water inthe tub 132 reaches the target water level through the continuous watersupply.

In a case where the continuous water supply time is not greater than thetarget time, the controller 199 decides that the water pressure of thecold water source C.W is normal, and performs turbo wash (S390). In acase where the continuous water supply time is not greater than thetarget time, the controller 199 performs the turbo washing 212 in thewashing cycle 210, and performs the penetration rinsing 222 and 228 andthe turbo rinsing 225 in the complex cycle 220.

In a case where the continuous water supply time is greater than thetarget time, the controller 199 decides that the water pressure of thecold water source C.W is low, and displays the cancellation of the turbowash to the outside (S370). In a case where the continuous water supplytime is greater than the target time, the controller 199 cancels theturbo wash, and displays the cancellation of the turbo wash in theinput/output unit 184 or flickers the light of the turbo wash button 185several times and then turns off the light of the turbo wash button 185.

After the turbo wash is canceled, the controller 199 performs generalwash (S380). The controller 199 performs the general washing in thewashing cycle 210. The controller 199 does not perform the penetrationrinsing 222 and 228, and performs the general rinsing.penetrationrinsing

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a pump fault determining method inthe washing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A user sets turbo wash through the course selection unit 182 and/or theturbo wash button 185 (S410). The turbo wash is used to perform turbowashing in which the laundry is washed by rotating the drum 134,circulating water mixed with a washing detergent and then spraying thewater into the drum 134 through the gasket nozzles 160 and 170 in theselected washing course and/or turbo rinsing in the laundry is rinsed byrotating the drum 134, circulating water mixed with a rinsing detergentand then spraying the water into the drum 134 through the gasket nozzles160 and 170.

The turbo wash is used to perform penetration rinsing in which laundryis rinsed by spraying water not mixed with a detergent into the drum 134through the spiral nozzle 50 and 60 when the laundry is rotated whilebeing attached to the drum by rotating the drum 134 in the selectedwashing course.

If washing is started after the turbo wash is set, the washing cycle 210is started so that the controller 199 performs the water supply 211(S420). In the water supply 211, water is supplied into the tub 132 froman external water source. In the water supply 211, the controller 199opens various valves of the water supply unit 136 including the first orsecond water supply valve 131 a or 131 b, etc. so that the watersupplied from the external water source is supplied into the tub 132through the water supply bellows 133.

If the water supply 211 is finished, the turbo washing 212 is performed.Then, the controller 199 operates the pump 148 to circulate the water(S430). If the pump 148 is operated, the water mixed with a washingdetergent in the tub 132 is circulated along the circulation hoses 151and 152, and then sprayed into the drum 134 through the gasket nozzles160 and 170.

When the pump 148 is operated, the controller 199 decides whether thewater level of the water contained in the tub 132, sensed by the waterlevel sensor 145, is lower than a set water level (S440). If the pump148 is operated to circulate the water, a certain amount of the water isstored in the circulation hoses 151 and 152, and therefore, the waterlevel of the water stored in the tub 132 is lowered. Thus, thecontroller 199 decides whether the pump 148 is false by comparing, withthe set water level, the water level of the water contained in the tub132, sensed by the water level sensor 145 in the operation of the pump148.

If the sensed water level is lower than the set water level, thecontroller 199 decides that the pump 148 is normally operated, andperforms turbo wash (S450). If the sensed water level is lower than theset water level, the controller 199 performs the turbo washing 212. Thecontroller 199 performs the penetration rinsing 222 and 228 and theturbo rinsing 225 in the complex cycle 220.

If the sensed water level is not lower than the set water level, thecontroller 199 decides that the pump 148 is false. Then, the controller199 stops the operation of the pump 148 and displays the cancellation ofthe turbo wash. If the sensed water level is lower than the set waterlevel, the controller 199 stops the operation of the pump 148. Thecontroller 199 cancels the turbo wash, and displays the cancellation ofthe turbo wash in the input/output unit 184 or flickers the light of theturbo wash button 185 several times and then turns off the light of theturbo wash button 185.

The controller 199 performs additional water supply (S480). Since wateris further needed in the general wash than in the turbo wash, thecontroller 199 opens various valves of the water supply unit 136including the first or second water supply valve 131 a or 131 b, etc. sothat the water supplied from the external water source is supplied intothe tub 132 through the water supply bellows 133.

If the additional water supply is finished, the controller 199 performsgeneral wash (S490). The controller 199 performs the general washing.The controller 199 does not perform the penetration rinsing 222 and 228in the complex cycle 220, and performs general rinsing.

The washing method described above has been described, based on thewater supply 211 and the turbo washing 212 in the washing cycle 210, butmay be applied to the water supply 224 and the turbo rinsing 225 in thecomplex cycle 220.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a pump operating method in thewashing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A user sets turbo wash through the course selection unit 182 and/or theturbo wash button 185 (S510). The turbo washing is used to perform turbowash in which the laundry is washed by rotating the drum 134,circulating water mixed with a washing detergent and then spraying thewater into the drum 134 through the gasket nozzles 160 and 170 in theselected washing course and/or turbo rinsing in the laundry is rinsed byrotating the drum 134, circulating water mixed with a rinsing detergentand then spraying the water into the drum 134 through the gasket nozzles160 and 170.

The turbo wash is used to perform penetration rinsing in which laundryis rinsed by spraying water not mixed with a detergent into the drum 134through the spiral nozzle 50 and 60 when the laundry is rotated whilebeing attached to the drum by rotating the drum 134 in the selectedwashing course.

If washing is started after the turbo wash is set, the washing cycle 210is started so that the controller 199 performs the water supply 211(S520). In the laundry quantity sensing 211 a, the laundry quantity thatis an amount of laundry received in the drum 134 is sensed. Thecontroller 199 controls the motor 141 to rotate the drum 134 at apredetermined speed for a predetermined time and then brake the drum134. Thus, the laundry quantity is sensed by measuring a deceleratingtime.

The controller 199 decides whether the sensed laundry quantity isgreater than reference laundry quantity (S530). The controller 199performs the laundry quantity sensing 211 a and then compares the sensedlaundry quantity with the reference laundry quantity.

In a case where the sensed laundry quantity is not greater than thereference laundry quantity, the controller 199 operates the pump 148when the motor 141 is operated in the turbo washing 212 or the turborinsing 225 so that the water is circulated (S540). In the turbo washing212 or the turbo rinsing 225, the controller 199 operates the pump 148when the drum 134 is rotated under the operation of the motor 141 sothat the water in the tub 132 is circulated along the circulation hoses151 and 152 and then sprayed into the drum 134 through the gasketnozzles 160 and 170.

In a case where the sensed laundry quantity is greater than thereference laundry quantity, the controller 199 operates the pump 148when the motor 141 is stopped so that the water is circulated (S550). Ina case where the sensed laundry quantity is greater than the referencelaundry quantity, the motor 141 may be overheated, and therefore, powerconsumption is also increased. Thus, in the turbo washing 212 or theturbo rinsing 225, the controller 199 stops the motor 141 and operatesthe pump 148 so that when the drum 134 is decelerated or stopped, thewater in the tub 132 is circulated along the circulation hoses 151 and152 and then sprayed into the drum 134 through the gasket nozzles 160and 170. In this case, although the washing or rinsing performance isslightly lowered, it is possible to prevent overheating and to reducethe maximum power consumption.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a washing method of a HEAVY DUTYcourse in the washing method according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

If a user a HEAVY DUTY course through the course selection unit 182, theHEAVY DUTY course is set (S610). The HEAVY DUTY course may be selectedwhen the amount of laundry is large or the contamination of the laundryis serious.

If the HEAVY DUTY course is set, the turbo wash is basically canceled asdescribed above.

The turbo washing is canceled, and general wash is set (S620). In a casewhere the user start washing while maintaining the general wash that isa basic setting of the HEAVY DUTY course, the turbo wash is canceled,and the general wash is set.

In a case where the turbo washing is canceled and the general wash isset in the HEAVY DUTY course, the controller 199 operates the pump 148when the motor 141 is stopped in the washing or the rinsing so that thewater is circulated (S630).

In the general wash, the general washing instead of the turbo washing212 is performed in another washing course, and the general rinsinginstead of the turbo rinsing 225 is performed. However, in the HEAVYDUTY course, the turbo washing 212 and/or the turbo rinsing 225 are/isperformed. In this case, the penetration rinsing 222 and 228 are notperformed.

Since the HEAVY DUTY course requires strong washing and rinsingperformance, the turbo washing 212 and/or the turbo rinsing 225 are/ispreferably performed even when the user sets the general wash. However,in order to prevent overheating and reduce the maximum powerconsumption, in the turbo washing 212 or the turbo rinsing 225, thecontroller 199 stops the motor 141 and operates the pump 148 so thatwhen the drum 134 is decelerated or stopped, the water in the tub 132 iscirculated along the circulation hoses 151 and 152 and then sprayed intothe drum 134 through the gasket nozzles 160 and 170.

Although the preferred embodiment and other embodiments of the methodfor preparing high-purity alumina according to the present invention hasbeen explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.However, the embodiments of the present invention are not limitedthereto, and it will be apparent that various modifications and otherembodiments are possible within the scope of the invention. Accordingly,the substantial scope of the invention shall be determined only by theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A washing machine comprising: a casing; a tub disposed inside thecasing; a drum rotatably provided inside the tub, for accommodatinglaundry therein; and a spiral nozzle for rotating supplied water in apredetermined direction and then spraying the water into the drumthrough discharge hole, wherein the spiral nozzle comprises animpingement surface formed in front of the discharge hole so that thewater discharged from the discharge hole is distributed by impinging onthe impingement surface.
 2. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein theimpingement surface comprises a curved surface portion for guiding thewater discharged from the discharge hole in a lower direction.
 3. Thewashing machine of claim 2, wherein the curved surface portion comprisesfirst and second descent guidance surfaces extended to be downwardlyinclined in opposite directions from each other.
 4. The washing machineof claim 3, wherein the first and second descent guidance surfaces havedifferent gradients from each other.
 5. The washing machine of claim 4,wherein the spiral nozzle further comprises a barrier formed on one ofthe first and second descent guidance surfaces, of which gradient issmaller than the other.
 6. The washing machine of claim 4, furthercomprising a gasket interposed between the casing and the tub, forpreventing water in the tub from leaking between the tub and the casing,wherein the spiral nozzle is fixed at a position biased to one sideabout a vertical center line of the gasket.
 7. The washing machine ofclaim 6, further comprising a steam nozzle for spraying steam into thedrum, wherein the steam nozzle is fixed on the vertical center line ofthe gasket.
 8. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the spiral nozzlecomprises: a flow channel forming pipe for forming a channel along whichthe supplied water flows; at least one vane for guiding the water toadvance toward the discharge hole while being rotated in thepredetermined direction in the flow channel forming pipe; and a spiralnozzle cap having the discharge hole.
 9. The washing machine of claim 8,wherein the spiral nozzle comprises a curved surface portion for guidingthe water discharged from the discharge hole in a lower direction, thecurved surface portion comprises first and second descent guidancesurfaces extended to be downwardly inclined in opposite directions fromeach other, and a barrier is formed on one of the first and seconddescent guidance surfaces, along which water having a greater flow rateis guided according to the rotation direction of the vane.
 10. Thewashing machine of claim 8, wherein the spiral nozzle further comprisesa vane shaft extended from a center of the flow channel forming pipe,and the vane connects between the vane shaft and the flow channelforming pipe.
 11. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the vane isextended smaller than an entire length of the flow channel forming pipealong a longitudinal direction of the vane shaft, and a finish end ofthe vane, at which a rotation of water flow is finished, is extended upto an end of the flow channel forming pipe.
 12. The washing machine ofclaim 10, wherein a boundary between an inner side of the vane and thevane shaft and a boundary between an outer side of the vane and the flowchannel forming pipe form a pair of spirals parallel with each other.13. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the vane is providedplural, and flow channels respectively formed by the plurality of vanesdo not overlap with one another in the flow channel forming pipe. 14.The washing machine of claim 13, wherein the plurality of vanes comprisefirst and second vanes, a start end of the first vane and a finish endof the second vane are spaced apart from each other when being viewed ina longitudinal direction of the vane shaft, and a finish end of thefirst vane and a start end of the second vane are spaced apart from eachother when being viewed in the length direction of the vane shaft. 15.The washing machine of claim 14, wherein a rotation angle from the startend to the finish end of any one of the first and second vanes issmaller than a value obtained by subtracting a rotation angle from thestart end to the finish end of the other of the first and second vanesfrom 360 degrees.
 16. The washing machine of claim 15, wherein therotation angle of each of the first and second vanes is less than 180degrees.
 17. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein a finish end ofthe vane forms a predetermined angle with the discharge hole about thevane shaft.
 18. The washing machine of claim 8, wherein the flow channelforming pipe and the spiral nozzle are formed with separate members tobe coupled to each other.
 19. The washing machine of claim 1, furthercomprising a water supply hose connected to an external water source,wherein the spiral nozzle sprays water supplied through the water supplyhose.
 20. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the water sprayedthrough the spiral nozzle reaches a posterior wall of the drum.